By FRITZ X. and JENNIFER L.K. HAEMMERLE
Fritz and Jennifer Haemmerle are both attorneys based in Hailey.
The purpose of this opinion piece is to address the changed start and dismissal times for the elementary schools. We believe that the decision by the school board to change the start and dismissal times for elementary schools, as well as all other affected schools, was poorly handled. This is a decision of profound magnitude that ostensibly affects every student in the district. However, this decision was not made in an open forum subject to public input by those parents, students and teachers and other community members affected by the decision.
Particularly distressful to us as parents of students in the school system and as members of this community is the fact that we contacted our school board representatives advising them of our view that the decision should have been made with hearings and full public input. The whole notion of governmental decision and action is based on basic notions of procedural due process (notice and opportunity to be heard).
Instead of respecting our thoughts about open discussion, we were advised by two different board members that that there was "no need to involve the public." Aside from the arrogance of this response, you need to be reminded that the opinions and participation of the public do not end at the ballot box. We do not elect you to be benevolent dictators.
If there had been public discussion, you may have been in a better position to determine the cost and benefit of your decision. Questions that might have been raised in an open forum include:
· How many students and parents were being harmed by the 8:30 a.m. start time and 3 p.m. dismissal?
· Exactly how much, and whose, time is being saved by moving the start and dismissal times?
· If there was some harm, were there other options other than moving the start and dismissal times?
· What about the negative impacts that will be created by moving the start and dismissal times?
· Was there a debate about the negative consequences?
· What about the "latch key" kids who will now spend an additional 30 minutes alone?
· What about the financial impacts of creating additional daycare expenses?
· What about the parents who have kids in multiple schools, and the time difference between kids getting out of different schools?
· What about the employment impacts of parents who have to have their kids at school a half-hour earlier or who must leave work a half-hour earlier, when the 8:30 a.m. start time and 3 p.m. dismissal times fit better with business working hours?
· What about the safety concerns of those kids who walk or ride bikes to school, who now must leave for school in the dark?
We know various reasons why the start time should have remained at 8:30 a.m. We do not know the advantages of moving the start time because we do not know the specifics of the reason the decision was made. Again, notice and an opportunity to be heard are good things. Remember, for better or worse, you have political offices. You are elected to serve your constituents. You certainly have a right to make these decisions, but you should use an open process to gain information; or, in the alternative, to use your political skills to convince us that your decision is correct.
You are the leaders of a very fine school system, for which you and your predecessors can take credit. You have raised the bar to a high level. Unfortunately, we now have expectations that we, your constituents, would be treated better.
